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Book review: The One Who Walked Away by Karen Rose

August 17, 20262 min read

The One Who Walked Away by Karen Rose reminded me why I used to be such a fan of romantic suspense. I read a stack of her books back in the early 2000s, along with Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, Elizabeth Lowell, Jayne Ann Krentz and Suzanne Brockmann. Although I’m not a fan of straight romance (ie. solely romance, not non-gay romance!) romantic suspense kinda ticks a few boxes for me, those books becoming a comfort-read of sorts. This is marked as Mendocino #1 so presumably the start of a new linked series… our main characters here being a family lawyer turned bounty hunter and a small town detective.

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Book review: Family Lies by Karen Rose

April 5, 20262 min read

Family Lies by Karen Rose is apparently the 33rd romantic suspense novel written by the American author and fourth in her San Diego series. I was an avid reader of Rose back in the early 2000s when I visited my local library twice weekly. Coincidentally the last book I’ve read of hers, Cheater, was part of this series, though I’d not remembered any of the characters or backstory. I very much liked [both] though and am now keen to read books one and three. For those who aren’t aware Rose writes loosely linked books, often featuring different lead characters with others on the periphery. Here cop Kit McKittrick’s sister Akiko is the focus, though everything unfolds from Kit’s point of view as well as Sam’s, her newish love interest.

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Book review: Cheater by Karen Rose

September 8, 20242 min read

Cheater by Karen Rose was the first book I’d read by the popular author for quite some time. I was a Rose devotee back when I borrowed books from the library (pre-seachange) and recall at one point downloading a diagram setting out the relationship between loosely-linked books and characters. Coincidentally I noticed Rose publish something on her Facebook page just a few days ago listing her books and series for those wanting to read them in order. And certainly when I retire they are books I’d potentially read in a systematic way if I could get hold of them all.

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Book review: Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

August 15, 20242 min read

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh is a tricky read as one of our narrators (a young woman called Ruby Johnson), with whom I initially assumed I was meant to bond, ends up being thoroughly unlikeable. Possibly quite psychotic in fact. We’re offered some insight into her unpleasant childhood which could potentially elicit some sympathy, but… she’s guilelessly wicked in quite a purposeful way and some of her actions make it impossible to feel anything but shock and horror. Of course at the same time there is something sufficiently charismatic about her that she’s able to play nice and sane… some of the time, at least.

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Book review: Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh

July 28, 20232 min read

Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh arrived when I was away for work recently and I allowed it to leap over others on my TBR list because I was about to head to Harrogate (in England) to the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and he was to be there.

I wasn’t planning on taking the book for him to sign as I’m not really into autographs, though do like chatting to authors… but I certainly wanted to have read it beforehand. However… there was an unfortunate bath-related incident in which the book threw itself into my bath (where I was reading) days before my departure.* Not one to be deterred, I dried it out in the winter air and gave it a day to two lest the pages tear as I turn them, before diving back in because though I was only about one-third of the way through, I was engrossed.

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Book review: Prisoner by SR White

October 7, 20213 min read

SR White’s debut novel Hermit was a real sleeper for me. It lured me in and had me intrigued before throwing in some huge twists. Someone I follow on social media said his next novel Prisoner, also featuring cop Dana Russo, was their favourite book this year, so I went in with high expectations.

Which, in retrospect wasn’t entirely fair as I kept thinking I’d again be blown away by ridiculously inexplicable reveals at the end. He does…. and I suspect they are mind-blowing, but less-so when you’ve been waiting for them.

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Book review: Kill A Stranger by Simon Kernick

December 20, 20202 min read

When I read the blurb for Kill A Stranger by Simon Kernick I was slightly worried it would be similar to The Chain by Adrian McKinty, which required a series of people to kidnap a child, so they can get their own child returned – a pay-it-forward concept if you like. However… that wasn’t the case which was a relief.

It reminded me a little of Louise Candlish’s popular The Other Passenger because parts of the novel are told in second person – which we discover – are actually our characters sharing their experiences with the police. So the events of the book are predominantly unfolding via police interviews.

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Book review: Death is Not Enough by Karen Rose

May 12, 20183 min read

It’s a good thing I enjoy Karen Rose’s novels of romantic suspense cos the last couple have been freakin’ huge.

If I’m being honest, I usually avoid books over 400 pages… thinking my attention span won’t survive them. Plus… more often than not the escapism I enjoy from books is meant to be short lived. Not something eked out over days and days.

Thankfully I’m a fast reader and although this is 600+ pages, it wasn’t overly (or even at all) arduous. *Mops brow with back of hand and swoons.*

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